New Delhi, 04 July (H.S.): Delhi Government Minister Parvesh Verma on Saturday recorded his statement before the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with the criminal defamation case filed against Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal directed that the matter be listed for further hearing on July 15.

In his statement before the court, Parvesh Verma alleged that Saurabh Bharadwaj had levelled false allegations with the intention of tarnishing his and his family's reputation. He said Bharadwaj falsely claimed that Verma had misused his position as a minister to appoint one of his alleged associates as a trustee of a private school trust valued at approximately Rs 500 crore.

Earlier, the matter was being heard by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal. On June 8, Magistrate Dalal recused himself from hearing the case.

In his criminal defamation complaint, Parvesh Verma stated that Saurabh Bharadwaj made social media posts on May 15 and 16 with the intention of defaming him. The complaint alleged that Bharadwaj falsely accused Verma of abusing his official position to appoint his alleged associate as a trustee of a private school trust worth nearly Rs 500 crore.

The complaint further stated that Bharadwaj had also alleged that Parvesh Verma acted in favour of employees of the school who are accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case. Verma contended that these posts were deliberately made to damage his reputation in the eyes of the public.

In connection with the same matter, Parvesh Verma has also filed a civil defamation suit against Saurabh Bharadwaj before the Delhi High Court. In the civil defamation petition, Verma has sought damages of Rs 5 crore from Bharadwaj.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar